The Civics Project

The Civics Project The study of Civics is a study of how society operates. It encompasses the whole of any persons int

12/18/2021

Civic Sundays
December 19, 2021

The Civics Project will be holding its weekly discussion on aspects related to civics in general and Niagara Falls in specific this Sunday, December 19. We’ll be live at 9 AM.

We’ll continue our series on crime. We’ve discussed this issue with people who create the laws, people who are hired to enforce the laws and people who’s job it is to deal with the consequences of the laws. We’ve also talked with people on the inside of crime. Former convicts. Anthony Pugh reached out to us from the state of Washington and had something to say about this topic and brought Anthony Powers on the show to discuss crime and recidivism issues. We also talked to a former convict who has begun a post-jail reclamation program in Arkansas which gives people options and hope to avoid going back to prison.

This week we’ll bring the discussion back to NYS and Niagara Falls. A discussion point has become the term “Bail Reform”. It’s used as the catch-all phrase of late to explain our growing crime business. Since we had a crime industry before “bail reform”, it certainly cannot be the only issue effecting the community. We’ll discuss this with someone who has started an organization called the School of Entrepreneurial Thought, and located that school in the heart of Niagara Falls on 19th Street. Trent Hamilton is much more knowledgeable on this issue than most and he’ll share his thoughts tomorrow morning. He may even be bringing a surprise guest.

Join us at 9:00 AM by clicking the link below or visiting the page at https://www.facebook.com/TCPNF.

https://zoom.us/j/93146072547

Talking civics with interesting people has become the best hour of my week. I hope it’s becoming important to you too. It’s hard to give up an hour of your week. Just know that by doing so, you’re helping a lot of other people.

All of us are smarter than any of us. It will take all of us to understand how civics works - and thanks in advance to Trent Hamilton and the School of Entrepreneurial Thought for sharing their time and knowledge to The Civics Project.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

12/04/2021

Civic Sundays
December 5, 2021

The Civics Project will be holding its weekly discussion on aspects related to civics in general and Niagara Falls in specific this Sunday, December 5. We’ll be live at 9 AM.

The Salvation Army is one of the pillars of most communities in America, and thankfully we have an active and vibrant organization in Niagara Falls. Stephen Carroll will join us to discuss what the Army is all about and how it integrates within the community. Most important, if you want to “throw a dollar in the kettle” as it were, how do you do that? The visions of red kettles were synonymous with Christmas in America for generations. They’ve been gone for a while. Maybe it’s the covid-lockdown, but most of us are pining for the familiarity of seeing someone ringing a bell in front of an iconic symbol. Stephen can set us straight on all of this and more.

We’ll also talk with Niagara Falls City Councilman John Spanbauer. He may have lots to talk about, and we welcome it all as John is a great communicator and fearless educator on all things civics, but I’d like to ask him how 2021 went, and how 2022 might go. If you run a business (as a city basically can be) you tend to end one year and take stock, and plan the next with hopes of better times. It called benchmarking in the business or social science world. But we just want to take the temperature of the city and, whenever possible, find ways we can help. How can we all get “on the team” and on the same page, and move things forward. John is just working everyday and has his head down trying hard and agrees to talk about whatever, whenever, anyone asks. What more could you ask for? We appreciate it.

Join us at 9:00 AM by clicking the link below or visiting the page at https://www.facebook.com/TCPNF.

https://zoom.us/j/93146072547

Talking civics with interesting people has become the best hour of my week. I hope it’s becoming important to you too. It’s hard to give up an hour of your week. Just know that by doing so, you’re helping a lot of other people.

All of us are smarter than any of us. It will take all of us to understand how civics works - and thanks in advance to the Salvation Army and Stephen Carroll and Councilman Spanbauer for sharing their time and knowledge to The Civics Project.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

11/27/2021

Civic Sundays
November 28, 2021

The Civics Project will be holding its weekly discussion on aspects related to civics in general and Niagara Falls in specific this Sunday, November 28. We’ll be live at 9 AM.

Our multi-segment feature on the topic of crime, centered around the issue of bail reform, continues with Assemblyman Angelo Morinello and Stacey Suess. Ms. Suess is the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department Domestic Violence advocate. Assemblyman Morinello is the ranking minority member of the Assembly Codes Committee. These are two experts in the field who have direct knowledge of this issue. It doesn’t get any more relevant than that.

We’ll discuss the bail reform issue as it relates to domestic violence in our community.

Join us at 9:00 AM by clicking the link below or visiting the page at https://www.facebook.com/TCPNF.

https://zoom.us/j/93146072547

Talking civics with interesting people has become the best hour of my week. I hope it’s becoming important to you too. It’s hard to give up an hour of your week. Just know that by doing so, you’re helping a lot of other people.

All of us are smarter than any of us. It will take all of us to understand how civics works - and thanks in advance to Assemblyman Morinello and Niagara County Sheriff Advocate Stacey Suess for sharing their time and knowledge to The Civics Project.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

11/21/2021

Looking forward to talking about the issue of crime, with investigative journalist Mark Scheer, and founder of an organization called Redemption, an inmate-to-inmate therapy program that reduces recidivism and crime in the community.

Join us at 9:00 AM by clicking the link below or visiting the page at https://www.facebook.com/TCPNF.

https://zoom.us/j/93146072547

The study of Civics is a study of how society operates. It encompasses the whole of any persons int

11/20/2021

Civic Sundays
November 21, 2021

The Civics Project will be holding its weekly discussion on aspects related to civics in general and Niagara Falls in specific this Sunday, November 21. We’ll be live at 9 AM.

Our multi-segment feature on the topic of crime, enforcement, and maybe the elusive prevention, returns for the full hour. My co-pilot on this topic, Assemblyman Angelo Morinello cannot join us this week and our thoughts are with him. He will return soon to continue providing his unique insights.

This week we’re going to talk to former Niagara Gazette Editor, and current investigative reporter, Mark Scheer. Mark knows the crime situation in the country, county and certainly the city. He’s studied it, written about it etc. He knows a lot about this topic, so we’ll pick his brain. After Mark sets the table for this topic we’re going to bring on a friend of the show and former guest Anthony Pugh. Anthony served 20+ years incarcerated. The opportunity to have these two sides of the perspective together at the same time is a rare and important opportunity. But that’s not all. We’ll also make space in the discussion for Anthony Powers, who has founded an organization called Redemption, an inmate-to-inmate therapy program which reduces recidivism in the prison system and violence in communities.

Join us at 9:00 AM by clicking the link below or visiting the page at https://www.facebook.com/TCPNF.

https://zoom.us/j/93146072547

Talking civics with interesting people has become the best hour of my week. I hope it’s becoming important to you too. It’s hard to give up an hour of your week. Just know that by doing so, you’re helping a lot of other people.

All of us are smarter than any of us. It will take all of us to understand how civics works - and thanks in advance to Mark Scheer, Anthony Pugh and Anthony Powers for sharing their time and knowledge to The Civics Project.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

11/15/2021

Tom Christy, founder of The Civics Project and host of the Sunday Civics podcast, will be appearing tonight on Citizens United w/John Restaino program. The show begins at 6 PM. Honored to be asked and looking forward to some intelligent conversation.

https://www.facebook.com/CitizensUnitedNY/

Podcast dealing with Niagara County NY and beyond.

11/14/2021

In 30 minutes we get to pick the brain of someone who's been involved in the operation of Niagara Falls civics for nearly half a century. He's open and transparent. He's intelligent and thoughtful. A great learning opportunity.

Join us at 9:00 AM by clicking the link below or visiting the page at https://www.facebook.com/TCPNF.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

11/13/2021

Civic Sundays
November 14, 2021

The Civics Project will be holding its weekly discussion on aspects related to civics in general and Niagara Falls in specific this Sunday, November 14. We’ll be live at 9 AM tomorrow.

We’re in the midst of a couple of multi-week topics, and this week will be the first of new a specific series: What is the future of any city - and Niagara Falls specifically. Sure Niagara Falls, but civics, and society, are complex things. We need to understand the basics before we can imagine changes. Current Niagara Falls city councilman Frank Soda will be our guest. He’s completing an unexpired vacant term on the council and agreed not to run for a full term. He’s had a front row seat to civics for a long time. There are a lot of things I’d like to ask him. But mostly I want to listen. He’s got a lot of experience. We need to unconditionally suck it all out of him, step back, think, and then ask for more and more clarity. I know he’s a phenomenal resource - how much we can learn depends on us.

Join us at 9:00 AM by clicking the link below or visiting the page at https://www.facebook.com/TCPNF.

https://zoom.us/j/93146072547

Talking civics with interesting people has become the best hour of my week. I hope it’s becoming important to you too. It’s hard to give up an hour of your week. Just know that by doing so, you’re helping a lot of other people.

All of us are smarter than any of us. It will take all of us to understand how civics works - and thanks in advance to Frank Soda for sharing his time and knowledge to The Civics Project.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

11/06/2021

Civic Sundays
November 7, 2021

The Civics Project will be holding its weekly discussion on aspects related to civics in general and Niagara Falls in specific this Sunday, November 7. Remember, it’s time to turn the clock’s back. We’ll be live at 9 AM. Adjust accordingly.

This time of year brings two distinct civic events: Elections and Budgets. We’ll tackle both this week.

Budgets: Most local municipalities run on a calendar budget year. Increasingly budgets are year-round work projects, but formal public budget presentations occur on or around November 1. Our focus municipality, the city of Niagara Falls, N.Y., released its budget this week and City Councilman John Spanbauer will join us for a discussion and to point out the highlights. Even more interesting is that Mr. Spanbauer has taken it upon himself to initiate and develop a training program for newly elected city councilpersons. This year three of the five members will not only be newly elected, but none have ever served in elected office in any capacity. Hard to explain how unique this concept of training is. And how much forethought it took to decide to tackle this sort of project.

Elections: They’re over. And they start anew. Let’s face it - politics and elections are the #1 interest of almost everyone these days. And they certainly have an important civic component. We’ll have a more general discussion of the most recent election cycle with Dave Pfaff. Less local and more state and national interests. What is temperature of the nation at this point in time? There is a collective national and state mood. We’ll probe where that mood is and where it might be headed in 2022.

Join us at 9:00 AM by clicking the link below or visiting the page at https://www.facebook.com/TCPNF.

https://zoom.us/j/93146072547

Talking civics with interesting people has become the best hour of my week. I hope it’s becoming important to you too. It’s hard to give up an hour of your week. Just know that by doing so, you’re helping a lot of other people.

All of us are smarter than any of us. It will take all of us to understand how civics works - and thanks in advance to John Spanbauer and Dave Pfaff for sharing their time and knowledge to The Civics Project.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

10/31/2021

30 minutes away - top of the hour - is one cause of increased crime the law known officially as Bail Reform, and unofficially as Catch-and-Release? Assemblyman Angelo Morenello (ranking minority member of the Codes Committee) and Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti will discuss this with you.

Join us at 9:00 AM by clicking the link below or visiting the page at https://www.facebook.com/TCPNF.

https://zoom.us/j/93146072547

The study of Civics is a study of how society operates. It encompasses the whole of any persons int

10/30/2021

Civic Sundays
October 31, 2021

The Civics Project will be holding its weekly discussion on aspects related to civics in general and Niagara Falls in specific this Sunday, October 31. This week we’ll be continuing our discussion of crime, specifically the topic of bail reform, or what’s come to be called catch-and-release.

Some topics require more than one session; more than one guest; more than one viewpoint. Two weeks ago we talked with NYS Assemblyman Angelo Morinello, who is uniquely qualified to discuss this issue broadly as a former Judge, current Assemblyman, and the ranking minority member of the Codes Committee in Albany. Kind of the triple-play of being at the center of an issue like this. As a further educational step, Assemblyman Morinello has suggested (and arranged!) a law enforcement perspective. Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti will join both the Assemblyman and myself for a discussion.

Afterwards we’ll discuss the upcoming election. Civics is voting - hopefully you’ll be participating. I’ve asked an infinitely curious voter to come on and we’re going to review the five state ballot proposals. When you go to vote don’t forget to flip the ballot over. Side two has five statewide proposals.

Finally, the age of the write-in candidacy is here, and may actually become more normal than rare. Multiple municipalities across the United States are conducting elections with write-in candidates. We have two prominent examples right here in WNY. How are they being handled? Sadly, quite differently. As we continue to focus our civics attention on one locality - Niagara Falls - we’ll get a shocking update from the Falls’ candidate, John Restaino.

Join us at 9:00 AM by clicking the link below or visiting the page at https://www.facebook.com/TCPNF.

https://zoom.us/j/93146072547

Talking civics with interesting people has become the best hour of my week. I hope it’s becoming important to you too. It’s hard to give up an hour of your week. Just know that by doing so, you’re helping a lot of other people.

All of us are smarter than any of us. It will take all of us to understand how civics works - and thanks in advance to Angelo Morinello and Sheriff Filicetti for sharing their knowledge to The Civics Project, and a huge thank you to all candidates who take the time to participate in the process. While civics isn’t just government or elections, they do matter and it starts with participation. It’s time consuming hard work to be involved. We thank them all for their efforts.

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...

10/27/2021

2021 Ballot initiatives:

When you receive your ballot for the 2021 election, flip it over. Five statewide ballot initiatives require your attention. Visit https://www.elections.ny.gov/2021BallotProposals.html for a detailed review of each proposal.

2021 Statewide Ballot Proposals

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Niagara Falls, NY

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